Constitutional Convention, Week of 18 June 1787

Journal of the federal convention Monday June 18, 1787

The order of the day being read

The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole house to consider of the state of the American union

Mr. President left the chair

Mr. Gorham took the chair of the committee

Mr. President resumed the chair

Mr. Gorham reported from the committee that the committee had made a further progress in the matter to them referred: and had directed him to move that they may have leave to sit again

Resolved that this house will to-morrow again resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to consider of the state of the American union

And then the house adjourned till to-morrow at 11 o’clock a.m.

In a Committee of the whole house Monday June 18, 1787

Mr. Gorham in the Chair

It was moved by Mr. Dickinson seconded by [blank] to postpone the consideration of the first resolution submitted by Mr. Paterson in order to introduce the following namely

“Resolved that the articles of confederation ought to be revised and amended, so as to render the government of the United States adequate to the Exigencies, the preservation, and the properity of the Union.”

And on the question to agree to the same

It passed in the affirmative

It was then moved and seconded that the Committee do now rise, report a further progress, and request leave to sit again

The Committee then rose

Journal of the federal convention Tuesday June 19, 1787

The order of the day being read

The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole house to consider of the state of the American union

Mr. President left the chair

Mr. Gorham took the chair of the committee

Mr. President resumed the chair

Mr. Gorham reported from the committee that the committee, having spent some time in the consideration of the propositions submitted to the house by the honorable Mr. Paterson, and of the resolutions heretofore reported from a committee of the whole house, both of which had been to them referred, were prepared to report thereon – and had directed him to report to the house that the committee do not agree to the propositions offered by the honorable Mr. Paterson – and that they again submit the resolutions, formerly reported, to the consideration of the house.

It was then moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the first resolutions, reported from the committee till to-morrow.

And on the question to postpon

It passed in the affirmative

And then the house adjourned till to-morrow at 11 o’clock a.m.

In a Committee of the whole House Tuesday June 19, 1787

Mr. Gorham in the Chair

On a question to adopt Mr. Dickinson’s motion – moved yesterday

It passed in the negative

It was then moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the first proposition offered by Mr. Paterson

Passed in the affirmative

It was then moved and seconded that the Committee do now rise – and report to the House that they do not agree to the propositions offered by the honorable Mr. Paterson – and that they report the resolutions offered by the honorable Mr. Randolph, heretofore reported from a Committee of the whole House

Passed in the affirmative

The Committee then rose

Journal of the federal convention Wednesday June 20, 1787

The honorable William Blount Esquire a Deputy from the State of North Carolina attended and took his seat.

The following credentials were then produced and read.

(here insert Mr. Blount’s credentials)

It was moved by Mr. Ellsworth seconded by Mr. Gorham to amend the first resolution reported from the Committee of the whole House so as to read as follows – namely,

Resolved that the government of the United States ought to consist of a Supreme Legislative, Judiciary, and Executive.

On the question to agree to the amendment

It passed unanimously in the affirmative

It was then moved by Mr. Lansing seconded by Mr. Sherman to postpone the consideration of the second resolution reported from the committee, in order to take up the following, namely

Resolved that the powers of legislation be vested in the United States in Congress

And on the question to postpone

It passed in the negative

It was then moved and seconded to adjourn

Which passed in the negative

On motion of the Deputies of the State of Delaware the determination of the house in the second resolution reported from the Committee was postponed until to-morrow

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow at 11 o’clock a.m.

Journal of the federal convention Thursday June 21, 1787

The honorable Jonathan Dayton Esquire, a Deputy from the State of New Jersey, attended and took his seat

The following credentials were produced and read

(here insert Mr. Dayton’s credentials)

It was moved and seconded to agree to the second resolution reported from the Committee, namely,

Resolved that the Legislature consist of two  branches

Which passed in the affirmative

It was moved and seconded to amend the first clause of the 3rd resolution reported from the Committee so as to read

Resolved that the members of the first branch of the legislature ought to be appointed in such manner as the legislature of each state shall direct

On the question to agree to the amendment

It passed in the negative

It was then moved and seconded to agree to the first clause of the third resolution as reported from the committee, namely,

Resolved that the members of the first branch of the legislature ought to be elected by the people of the several states

Which passed in the affirmative

It was moved and seconded to erase the word “three” from the second clause of the third resolution, reported from the committee

Which passed in the affirmative

It was moved and seconded to insert the word “two” in the second clause of the third resolution reported from the committee

Which passed unanimously in the affirmative and then the house adjourned till to-morrow at 11 o’clock a.m.

Journal of the federal convention Friday June 22, [1787]

It was moved and seconded to strike the following words out of the 4th clause in the 3rd resolution reported from the committee, namely

“To be paid out of the public treasure”

On the question to strike out the words

It passed in the negative

It was moved and seconded to strike the following words out of the 3rd resolution reported from the committee, namely

“to receive fixed stipends by which they may b e compensated for the devotion of their time to public service” and to substitute the following clause, namely

“to receive an adequate compensation for their services”

On the question to agree to the amendment

It passed in the affirmative

[page 29 is missing]

Journal of the federal convention Saturday June 23rd, 1787

It was moved and seconded to strike out the following words in the third resolution reported from the committee namely “by a particular state”

On the question to strike out the words

It passed in the affirmative

It was moved and seconded to amend the third resolution by striking out the following words namely “or under the authority of the United States during the term of service, and under the national government for the space of one year after it’s expiration” – and inserting the following clause, after the word “established” namely

“or the emoluments whereof shall have been augmented b y the legislature of the United States during the time of their being members thereof, and until they shall have ceased to be members for the space of one year”

On the question to agree to the amendments

It passed in the negative

It was moved and seconded to add after the words “ineligible to” the words

“and incapable of holding”

Which passed in the affirmative

It was moved and seconded to strike the words “national government” out of the third resolution

Which passed in the affirmative

It was moved and seconded to strike the word “established” out of the 3rd resolution

Which passed in the affirmative

It was moved and seconded to add after the word “service” in the third resolution, the words “of the first branch”

Which passed in the affirmative

It was then moved and seconded to agree to the words “and for the space of on year after its expiration”

On the question to agree to these words

It passed in the negative

And then the house adjourned till Monday next at 11 o’clock a.m.